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| MATR Newsletter - Fri Jun 5, 2009 |
“Your effectiveness as a leader will be judged by the extent to which you have allowed others to contribute to your success… and the extent to which you have contributed to theirs.” William Weldon, Johnson & Johnson CEO, to the Quinnipiac class of 2009 - Further Commencement Speeches http://matr.net/articl ... .html
My kind of transit advertising (or, Thanks, Montana!) http://www.matr.net/ar ... .html
Globalization Partners International
Idaho National Laboratory
- To Localize or Not to Localize…
Companies like Disney, Google, Royal Caribbean, and others invest in strategy and planning, methodically building their localization efforts. That is why we see them steadily adding languages to their global websites — and expanding their businesses as a result of it.
Vision Net
- The Idaho National Laboratory and its contractors hiring through job fair
“We want to take the mystery out of getting a job with the national lab and at the site,” said Windy Melgaard, the Labor Department consultant who is coordinating the fair. “This fair will do that.”
Highway 12 Ventures
- Vision Net Summer Technology Roadshow, 6/9, Missoula
Vision Net would like to invite you to join us on June 9th, from 9:00 to 3:00 for a focused, comprehensive discussion on three of the hottest topics in IT today - Network Security, Voice over IP, and Video Conferencing.
Come Home Wyoming
- Techstars: Everything That’s Great About Startups - (And Why I Love Being An Early-Stage Venture Capitalist)
The best start-up mentorship environment I’ve seen in my career.
Developing a more Entrepreneurial Montana
- In Wyoming, the Pieces Fall Into Place
That first summer was unusually rainy; seeing him camped out inches above the mud, the utility workers who came to help install his electrical system recognized an urgent need. “It’s O.K. for a man to live like this,” one of them told him. “But we got to get some power in here for your dog.”
Montana Biotech
- Why is Montana so Entrepreneurial?
The fact that two of Montana’s entries into the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual competition, were not only regional award winners, but were top national contenders, speaks to the caliber of Montana’s small business owners.
- Little Big Horn College prepares entrepreneurs - School's course offers insight with networking skills
The 12-week "Indianpreneurship" course was designed to help students toward their goal of creating Indian-owned and -operated businesses. That included learning how to develop a business concept and understanding all the steps necessary for creating a successful enterprise.
Montana Business
- Montana BioScience Annual Meeting, 7/17, Hamilton, Montana
Reception 7/16
Montana Economic Development
- The Healthy Pantry in Red Lodge Receives Bootstrap Montana Interest-free Loan - 2nd Loan Recipient in 2009
"With Bootstrap Montana’s assistance, we've been able to undertake three initiatives: 1) upgrading our web site, 2) sending samples to key people like bloggers, editors, and industry 'influencers', and 3) hiring another person for order fulfillment."
- Bozeman-based backpack maker, Mystery Ranch, has eyes on expansion
“Our business is rolling and we’re bursting at the seams,” said Mystery Ranch co-founder Renee Sippel-Baker.
- Urban Mountain Development of Helena, Montana has a new website.
What is Community?
- Montana Senator Jon Tester raises complaints that out-of-state companies stand to get too much contract work for Montana stimulus projects at hearing
The administrator-designate for the federal General Services Administration has agreed to visit Montana, where there are complaints that out-of-state companies stand to get too much contract work for Montana stimulus projects.
- Invest in Montana: Local companies should get crack at stimulus contracts in the state - Missoulian Editorial
Fully qualified local companies, two of which teamed up to build four other border stations - and at a third of the cost anticipated for the new ones - weren't even given the opportunity to bid on these contracts, which instead were given to two giant corporations in California.
Careers
- Montana planning China business visit - Montana Chamber of Commerce
"It's hugely important for Montana to get connected to the rest of the world" Montana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Webb Brown said on Monday. "We were, and I believe may still be, the least exporting state in the nation and we have to look at what's out there. We can't eat all our beef and all our wheat ourselves."
- Montana Association of Community Development Extension Professionals: June 2009 E-Newsletter
Over 200 Attend the 2009 Rural Community Conference
- My kind of transit advertising (or, Thanks, Montana!)
We saw these in Seattle's Pioneer Square tunnel station on the way to the airport last week. They're all over the buses, too.
Funding and Building your Business
- Ways to Ace a Phone Interview
These days, job hunters are finding that they need to reserve an hour or more for a phone interview.
Incubators and R&D
- Startup 124: The Term Sheet - Valuation and Dilution
“What is a Term Sheet and what do all the terms mean?”
- Cozi Founder Talks About Dell Deal, a Great Mentor, and Why He Had to Start a Company
Within the challenging space of Web-based consumer software, Cape had some valuable insights to share. Here’s a quick rundown:
Montana Education Excellence
- At Stanford, research surpasses investments as top revenue source
"The science budget this year is tremendous. Thanks to this administration, it is a whole new dawn for science."
Regional Business
- Save Whitefish High School, save Whitefish
The city of Whitefish is at a crossroads. Do we save our high school, or do we become a bedroom community of Kalispell?
- Governor Schweitzer Announces Energy Efficiency Upgrade Grants for Schools through the Montana Department of Commerce Quick Start Program
“Quick Start will provide quick relief and long-term benefits for Montana’s schools,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “Quick Start is designed to assists schools with conducting energy audits and completing energy efficiency projects that provide long-term, cost-effective benefits to K-12 school facilities.”
Idaho Business
- Oregon, Washington could lead nation out of recession, Moody's says
Strong high-tech industries will help propel the Northwest -- and Idaho and Colorado -- out of the slump first, the research company says.
North Dakota Business and Economic Development
- Three Start-ups Win Big at Idaho Statewide Business Competition
“Each year, the competition at TechLaunch is more intense,” said Melanie Rubocki, Idaho TechConnect Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner of Perkins Coie. “The talent and ideas in the room are inspiring. The judges really had their work cut out for them this year."
- Boise, Idaho Mayor Bieter announces new alternative energy incubator
The “Green House,” which will occupy a soon-to-be-vacant city-owned building at 5th and Idaho streets, will offer office space and support services like free legal and accounting help for start-up green businesses.
- Hawaii-based Hoku Scientific Inc. to build $390 million polysilicon plant near Pocatello, Idaho
Hoku would be reimbursed up to $15 million of its tax payments for initial building costs, and could recover $17 million of its property tax if it meets the employment commitments.
- The University of Idaho pays consultant $112K for 9-month contract - "Chief Inspiration Officer"
Rodriguez spends between zero and 10 days at the university in northern Idaho each month, the contract says.
Oregon Business
- In North Dakota, the Good Times Are Still Rolling
California has the Golden Gate Bridge, New York has the Empire State Building, Illinois has the Magnificent Mile. And North Dakota? It has a hefty budget surplus those states would envy.
Utah Economic Development
- In Prineville, Oregon, (population 10,000) discussions of a convention center
“We cannot wait for businesses to come,” Allen said. “We know we have to do something not only to aid the current businesses we have in town but to draw more business into town that makes sense for Prineville.”
Washington State Business
- High-tech could help lead Utah recovery
That also means Utah will come out of the recession 12 or so months after much of the rest of the country, according to Moody's Economy.com.
- Centers of Excellence Grant Solicitation Now Open
The Centers of Excellence (COE) Fiscal Year 2009-2010 solicitation period is now open. Entrepreneurs and existing companies can take advantage of this long-standing economic development program run by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED).
Education
- Washington State University Vancouver Students Create Web Site to Promote SW Washington - “Living in Southwest Washington”
The project, commissioned by civic leader Ed Lynch, was designed with two audiences in mind: employers exploring Southwest Washington as a good place to move or start a business and individuals contemplating a career–based relocation.
- 2009 Washington Governor's Best Practice Awards nomination deadline
These annual awards bring statewide public and professional recognition to projects and programs that have achieved positive results in the last two to three years and have made significant contributions to the field of workforce and economic development.
Montana Meth Project
- How Can We Build Better Programs for Disconnected Youth?
Too many young people are disconnected from the worlds of school and work, putting them at serious risk for getting into trouble today and not succeeding in the future.
- International Lessons about National Education Standards Policy
These ten countries are making significant improvement in mathematics and science achievement and operate along a spectrum of national and local educational control. They’re lessons that heed American cultural and political realities and could help us navigate the national standards terrain, the authors note.
- Small Schools — a View From the United Kingdom
Research in the U.S. finds no advantage in consolidated schools. Reports from Europe come to the same conclusion.
- Next Test: Value of $125,000-a-Year Teachers
So what kind of teachers could a school get if it paid them $125,000 a year?
- Western Governors University Enhances Economic Turnaround Scholarship With Larger Payouts and Longer Terms
Application Deadline Extended to June 30, 2009
Community
- New director, Bill Slaughter, outlines goals of Montana Meth Project
"Early on, we realized we're not going to arrest our way out of this," he said. "It was a transformation for me, because I believed in arresting people and putting them in jail."
Energy and Climate ChangeMiscellaneous Ramblings
- The governors of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington urge green energy power grid funding
The governors of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington are urging Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to support funding for integrating wind-generated electricity into the Northwest grid.
- Former WPPSS mulls nuclear reactor construction in Pacific Northwest
In a May 27 letter obtained by the Associated Press, the consortium asked each of its 25 member public utilities and municipalities to pitch in $25,000 for further research into building one or more small reactors. Those who pay would have first rights to any power produced if a plant is built.
Cool Stuff That's Coming
- CEO Carol Bartz unveils new &*%! strategy for Yahoo
I'd like to take a moment and thank you for dragging your (expletive) down here for this meeting. Please take your seats and shut the (expletive) up. We've got a lot of ground to cover today.
Government Technology
- These batteries are made for walkin’
One minute of walking can generate 10 minutes of talk time on a cellphone.
The Creative and Cultural Economy
- Call For Leaders In Gov 2.0 Innovation
The event, called the Gov 2.0 Expo Showcase, is encouraging government-technology architects, managers, and other leaders to step forward with their real-world projects.
- Monana restarting vehicle registration after software fixes but problems may persist for awhile
"It will probably be two-to-three months before it will really be at the level that we want," said Larry Fasbender, deputy director at the agency.
- Some Montana officials confident in motor vehicle registration computer system - MERLIN
The car registration and titling computer system was restarted Wednesday after a two-day shutdown to fix critical issues, but lingering bugs left local clerks frustrated as vehicle owners were forced in some places to stand in long lines.
Transportation
- Helena To Host First Major Worldwide Hollywood Film Premier For CALL OF THE WILD 3D, - 6/10
“Montana’s Big Sky belongs on the big screen. What better place to premier CALL OF THE WILD 3D than right here in Montana’s Capitol City,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “Fourteen Montanans were employed through the filming of this movie and over 30 Montana businesses in Helena, Lincoln, Phillipsburg, Missoula and Kalispell directly generated business as a result.”
- Hollywood workers settling in tax-friendly states
"I came here on a distant location to do a TV series, not planning to move," Gilpin said. "But I realized, you know, what a good place to be."
- Ravalli County, Montana to look at passenger rail service between Missoula and Darby.
A functioning rail line in the Bitterroot is years away, but O'Brien has spearheaded the effort to examine the possibilities a train could offer.
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